Saturday 30 May 2026

Good morning Bangkok. Happy Saturday.

🌡️ Weather: 29-36°C (84-97°F). Hot through the afternoon with scattered thundershowers possible from mid-afternoon. TMD's severe weather warning for heavy rain, flash floods and strong Andaman waves continues through tomorrow. Bangkok stays drier than the south but keep an umbrella handy.

🌫️ AQI: 133-159 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Unhealthy). Elevated across the city. Mask strongly recommended for any extended outdoor time. Morning is the cleaner window.

The Royal Gazette published an announcement from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee on May 28, titled "Announcement on Prohibited Alcohol Sales Hours B.E. 2569 (2026)," which took effect on May 29 and replaces the previous 2025 regulation. Under the updated rules, alcohol sales are now permitted from 11AM to midnight in certain qualifying locations, a significant shift from the longstanding framework that restricted sales to two daily windows (11AM-2PM and 5PM-midnight) with a full 2-5PM blackout that has defined Bangkok's drinking culture for decades. The change does not apply universally: the qualifying locations and specific conditions under which the extended hours operate are defined in the announcement, meaning not every 7-Eleven, restaurant or bar will automatically benefit.

The revision arrives in the context of a broader liberalization trend that this newsletter has been tracking since April. The EEC zone's 24-hour alcohol proposal for the Pattaya area received in-principle approval. The 90-day review of the December 2025 afternoon sales lift came back clean, with no increase in accidents. And now the Royal Gazette has published updated national regulations that move the framework forward again. For expats who have spent years explaining to visiting friends why they cannot buy a beer at 3PM, the ground is shifting. The practical question is which venues near you qualify under the new rules and whether your local convenience store or restaurant has adjusted accordingly. The answer will vary by location, but the direction of travel is clear: Thailand is gradually moving toward more flexible alcohol sales, and the data from the earlier experiments is supporting the case.

Bottom Line: Check your local spots. The regulation is live but implementation will be uneven as venues figure out whether they qualify. The 2-5PM ban is not dead everywhere, but it is no longer the blanket rule it was. If you have been here long enough to have opinions about the 2-5PM window, yesterday was the day those opinions started becoming less relevant.

Chim Chim on a Saturday morning is exactly the kind of weekend experience that makes you wonder why you ever settled for a mall food court. The restaurant holds a 4.6-star rating across 902 Google reviews. BK Magazine featured the brunch and described the sets as "curated with an eclectic mix of crate-diggers," which captures the energy without overstating it. Chef Antoine Darquin's menu covers both the classic and the creative: the Hangover Brekkie (฿420) delivers eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes for anyone who needs the fundamentals. The breakfast burrito (฿390) wraps a slice of everything into one roll. The charcoal pancakes with caramelized grilled banana (฿320) are the order that separates Chim Chim from every other brunch spot in the area, dark, slightly smoky, and paired with the sweetness of the banana in a way that works far better than it sounds. For dessert, the double chocolate chip cookies served with vanilla brownie ice cream (฿270) is the closer. Roots coffee is the house pour. Outdoor seating, great cocktails and vegan options are all available. On a Saturday morning when you want good food, good music and the kind of atmosphere that lets a slow morning stay slow, Chim Chim is the call.

TIP: Go before 11AM for a table near the vinyl setup. The brunch crowd builds from noon. The charcoal pancakes are the thing to order if you only try one dish. Address: 865 Rama I Road, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330. Near BTS National Stadium. Website: chimchimbangkok.com. Hours: Open daily, closes 11PM. Delivery from 8AM Saturdays. Rating: 4.6 stars, 902 Google reviews. Price range: ฿400-1,000.

Have a wonderful Saturday, and see you tomorrow morning.

— Devon